Evaluation of entheseal changes in horticultural groups from Central Chile (0-1400 CE) from a materialist approach.

HERRERA SOTO, MARÍA JOSÉ; SANHUEZA, LORENA; LUNA, LEANDRO H.

Reno

Congreso; 92ND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS; 2023

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS

The current territory of Central Chile was occupied by non-hierarchical societies during the period ca. 0-1400 years CE. The Bato and Llolleo cultural complexes inhabited that region during the EarlyCeramic Period (ECP, ca. 0-1000/1200 CE); these contemporary groups display marked differencesbetween them: Llolleo show a higher emphasis on horticulture and pottery production, while themobility and use of space by Bato groups are similar to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Then, theAconcagua culture (Late Intermediate Period, LIP, ca. 1000-1400 CE) is characterized by a greaterdependence on food production. Different lines of evidence proposed higher differences by sexin Aconcagua (e.g., a greater consumption of maize by men). Considering these changes, wewonder if a sexual division of labor regulated the organization of daily life during LIP. We analyze the entheseal changes (Coimbra Method) to evaluate the biomechanical stress in adult skeletons of the ECP (N=25) and LIP (N=31). Although no statistically significant differences were identified when comparing the scores by sex and periods, several differences between women and men for both periods are evident, pointing to a decrease in male variability and an increase in female variability. This scenario may suggest a diversification of physical activities by women during the LIP related to food production and a rise of reproductive and offspring care works. A demographic growth during LIP is suggested, which is consistent with previous models that show a greater permanence in housing areas and a greater number of individuals in the residential units.